"Sidney'll keep him in order. You may depend upon that. You see, he can't fool Sidney. He knows too much. He'd know in a minute if Raymond was up to anything." "Oh, that does make it much safer, of course. Still----" She broke into a giggle--"Perhaps he won't want it after all, Marie!" "Oh yes, he will, you goose!" said Marie. And so they chattered on till the clock struck midnight. When Arthur, returned from Malvern, came to congratulate Marie, he found her in a blaze of family glory, the reward of the girl who has done the wise thing and is content with it, who, feeling herself happy in wisdom, enables everybody else to feel comfortable. Old Mr. Sarradet even seemed grateful to Arthur himself for not having deprived him prematurely of a daughter who had developed into such a valuable asset, and been ultimately disposed of to so much greater advantage; at least some warrant for this impression might be found in the mixture of extreme friendliness and sly banter with which he entertained the visitor until Marie made her appearance. As soon as she came, she managed to get rid of her father very promptly; she felt instinctively that the triumphant note was out of place. Yet she could not hide the great contentment which possessed her; native sincerity made such concealment impossible. Arthur saw her enviable state and, while he smiled, honestly rejoiced. The old sense of comradeship revived in him; he remembered how much happiness he had owed her. The last silly remnant of condescending surprise at her choice vanished. "It does one good to see you so happy," he declared. "I bask in the rays, Marie!" "I hope you'll often come and bask--afterwards." "I will, if you'll let me. We must go on being friends. I want to be better friends with Sidney." She smiled rather significantly. Arthur laughed. "Oh, that's all over long ago--I was an ass! I mean I want really to know him better." "He'll be very pleased, though he's still a little afraid of you, I expect. He has improved very much, you know. He's so much more--well, responsible. And think what he's done for us!" "I know. Joe told me. And he's going into the business?" "He's going to be the business, I think," she answered, laughing. "Splendid! And here am I, still a waster! I must get Sidney to reform me too, I think." "I don't know about that. I expect nobody's allowed to interfere with you!" She smiled roguishly and asked in banter, "How is the wonderful cousin? You've been staying with her, haven't you?" Arthur started; the smile left his face. The question was like a sudden blow to him. But of course Marie knew nothing of the disaster; she imagined him to be still happily and gaily adoring. She would know soon, though--all the world would; she would read the hard ugly fact in the papers, or hear of it in unkind gossip. "Of course you haven't heard. There's been trouble. She's left us. She's gone away."